This page gathers the 4,686 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Idiomatic” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 2 of 47: from “American Dream” to “back burner”.
- American Dream noun The ideal stressing egalitarianism and that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve material…
- an arm and a leg noun Usually used after the verb cost, but also often charge, pay, and spend: a very high price for an item or service; an exorbitant price
- an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth proverb compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
- an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure proverb Precaution and prevention of an undesirable thing is preferable to dealing with its potential consequences.
- anaconda mortgage noun A loan arrangement in which all of the money borrowed from a lender, for whatever purpose, is secured by one's home, land, and other…
- ancient history noun That which happened a long time ago and not worth discussing any more.
- and all adv Including every object, attribute, or process associated with preceding item or series of items.
- and all this phrase Used at the end of a statement to insinuate that there is more information that can be inferred from the preceding.
- and change phrase And some quantity, but less than the increment to the next round number.
- and counting phrase Used to show that the number previously mentioned is continuously changing, i.e. increasing or decreasing.
- and finally noun A light news story reserved for the end of a bulletin when there is a lack of more important items; typically involving animals or other…
- and his mother phrase Serves as an intensifier for an inclusive noun or phrase such as everyone, anyone, each someone or all someones.
- and then some phrase Used to confirm preceding utterance, while implying that what was said or asked is an understatement.
- angle iron noun A length of iron or steel (now usually steel), having an L-shaped cross section, used as a structural component, support, or mending brace.
- answer on a postcard noun A brief answer or opinion.
- ante- prefix Prior to in time.
- ants in one's pants noun The condition of being agitated and constantly fidgeting.
- any given Sunday noun On a particular day, an unpredictable outcome can occur.
- any old det Any, absolutely any, any typical, a run-of-the-mill.
- appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober verb To ask someone to reconsider a decision or view they took while their judgment was swayed by momentary passion, excitement, etc.
- apple of someone's eye noun The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- apples and oranges noun A comparison of items that, however categorically similar, is inapt; an incompatible analogy, or the items so compared; a disanalogy.
- apples to apples, oranges to oranges noun A comparison of items that are similar, while also acknowledging or distinguishing a separation of their sets or categories.
- apron string noun A symbol of the domestic ties binding a male to a female (as a husband to a wife or a son to a mother).
- are you deaf phrase A rhetorical question asked to confront a nondeaf interlocutor who has failed to hear something.
- arm candy noun An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public solely so that one or both of the individuals can gain…
- arm's length adj Distant, detached.
- armchair quarterback noun A person who watches sports on television, typically American football, who often verbally suggests plays or critiques the players and…
- armpiece noun A decorative companion.
- around Robin Hood's barn prep_phrase the long way around; a roundabout or circuitous route
- around the clock prep_phrase All the time, or seemingly all the time; constantly.
- around the corner adj Imminent; very soon.
- around the horn prep_phrase Via shipboard communications, formerly metal tubes with earhorn-like ends.
- arrive at verb To reach (an objective or conclusion)
- artful dodger noun A crafty person who commits minor crimes or behaves in a rather unscrupulous manner.
- as far as one is concerned prep_phrase In someone's opinion, view, or judgment, indicating the speaker's personal perspective, often to introduce their belief or to define or…
- as far as one knows adv To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or…
- as if intj Indicates that the speaker deems something highly unlikely.
- as if there were no tomorrow adv To an excessive degree, oftentimes with little to no regard to future consequences; desperately; recklessly or wantonly; frantically; very…
- as in adv In the sense of.
- as is adj as it is; in its present unchangeable state or condition, especially as a contractual condition and obligation of sale or agreement…
- as long as conj Provided that, if, assuming (depending upon some condition or requirement).
- as of prep At or by a specified time, with the implication that the said condition will be true from that time onward.
- as soon as conj Used to indicate that the first action mentioned is as likely as, or is preferred to, the second action mentioned.
- as the crow flies adv In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
- as the gull flies adv In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
- as well adv In addition; also.
- ashcan noun A dustbin, trash can, or the like.
- ask for it verb To provoke an unwanted action; to invite a problem or fail to prevent one.
- ask my arse phrase A common reply to any question; once common at court and among sailors, under the name of "selling bargains".
- ask round verb To enquire of several people.
- asking for a friend phrase Indicates that a question is embarrassing by pretending to be posing the question on behalf of another person.
- asphalt jungle noun A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.
- ass over teakettle adv Tumbling upside down.
- ass-backwards adj Hopelessly misguided; contrary to what is normal, expected, or logical; having taken the utterly wrong choice.
- assault and battery noun The combination of two violent crimes: assault (the threat of violence) and battery (physical violence). This legal distinction exists only…
- assume the position verb To turn away, with one's hands in a visible and unmovable position, so that one can be searched.
- at a distance prep_phrase At a level of detachment or separation.
- at a loss prep_phrase Not sure; uncertain; lacking further ideas, direction, or ability.
- at a pinch prep_phrase by a small margin or amount
- at a stand prep_phrase In a state of confusion or uncertainty; undecided what to do next.
- at all adv Indicating degree, quantity or frequency greater than zero: to the slightest degree, in any way, at any time or in any circumstance.
- at all events adv In any event, at any rate.
- at all hours prep_phrase At all times of the day; around the clock.
- at arm's length prep_phrase Avoiding a close relationship.
- at bay prep_phrase Unable to come closer; at a distance.
- at home prep_phrase At ease; comfortable.
- at large prep_phrase On the loose; roaming freely; not confined.
- at last prep_phrase After a long time; eventually.
- at loose ends prep_phrase In an uncertain position or situation.
- at peace prep_phrase Dead.
- at peace with prep Not disturbed or upset by.
- at rest prep_phrase Not moving; stationary.
- at sea prep_phrase In a state of confusion or bewilderment.
- at sixes and sevens prep_phrase In a state of confusion.
- at someone's door prep_phrase Very nearby; close to someone.
- at that prep_phrase In addition to what has been said; furthermore; moreover.
- at the expense of prep At one's responsibility.
- at the feet of prep As a disciple, student, subordinate or worshiper of.
- at the helm prep_phrase In charge of a company or project.
- at the high port prep_phrase Held with two hands as in "port arms", but carried well above the head. The high port is often the position taught for running (at the…
- at the wheel prep_phrase Driving; in control of a vehicle.
- at will prep_phrase At one's preference; as one sees fit.
- atomic cocktail noun A drinkable liquid containing a radioactive substance, used either as a diagnostic aid or as a treatment, especially for cancer of the…
- attaboy intj Used to show encouragement or approval to a boy, man, or male animal.
- attagirl intj Used to show encouragement or approval to a girl, woman, or female animal.
- attakid intj Used to show encouragement or approval to a person.
- attention whore noun A person who routinely solicits attention through inappropriate tactics and provocation.
- Augean stables noun The stables where King Augeas kept his vast herd.
- autem cackler noun A Dissenter; a Protestant who is not a follower of the Established Church (i.e. Church of England, Church of Scotland, etc).
- autem mort noun A female beggar with several children hired or borrowed to excite charity.
- avant la lettre prep_phrase Before the term was coined (the term being a word or phrase used just previously in an anachronistic way)
- average up verb To calculate an average or rough figure.
- away with the fairies adj Not all there; slightly crazy.
- ax to grind noun A proposition or point of view to advocate, especially motivated by self-interest.
- aye aye, sir phrase The correct and seamanlike reply, onboard a Royal Navy and US Navy ship, on receipt of an order from someone of senior rank or authority.…
- babe in the woods noun A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless, especially with respect to an unfamiliar situation or environment.
- baby and bathwater noun Used in reference to an error in which something valuable is discarded in the process of removing or rejecting something unwanted.
- baby up verb To treat as a baby.
- back burner adj Having low urgency; not currently important.